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Firefighters Rescue Woman from Condo Fire

May 20, 2011

Three off-duty City of Madison firefighters and the son of another firefighter were instrumental in rescuing a 73-year-old woman from the balcony of her west side condominium Friday night after a fire started in the two-story condo.

The fire occurred in a 9-unit building in the 6900 block of Old Sauk Court shortly after 8:00 p.m.

Lt. Jeff Annen and his son Kyle, both MFD firefighters, were on their way to a graduation dinner when they saw what Lt. Annen described as a "tower of black smoke." Kyle used an app on his smart phone to tune into scanner traffic. Once they arrived at the fire scene, they met firefighter Ted Higgins and Joe Gangler, the son of firefighter Robert Gangler.

Joe was on the balcony with the woman with smoke and flames billowing around them as he attempted to put a ladder in place. Kyle climbed the ladder and together, the two got the woman to the ground safely.

She suffered some minor injuries in the fire and was treated by paramedics at the scene.

Meanwhile, Lt. Annen and Firefighter Higgins moved to the front of the building to assist with evacuation.

The fire quickly went to a second alarm. Crews were able to contain much of the damage to two units, though adjacent units had some damage as well.

More than a dozen residents and at least five pets were displaced for the night. They were being assisted by Red Cross.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Damages are estimated at $750,000.